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SNOWBALL EXPRESS The charity for the children of our fallen military heroes. http://snowballexpress.org/ ************************************
Operation Healing Angel needs cards for our wounded and the docs and nurses who care for them ALL year long- but especially during the holidays...it goes directly to our wounded...so please send that on too... we have 4 hospitals in the sandbox...
We never have enough nor do we have enough for the soldiers we send care packages too who are in the middle of nowhere....special operations...just send them in all in one envelope marked for what type of hero- nurse,doctor,wounded hero,deployed hero...and we will send them on...no postage needed except to get to Homefront Hugs !
Cards should be personalized with humor or jokes or small stories or photos to make it feel like home.... and sent to:
Operation Healing Angel Homefront Hugs USA 1449 Tiger Lake Drive Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563
THEY ARE THEN SENT OUT FOR YOU TO SECURE LOCATIONS ALL OVER THE WAR ZONE BY HOMEFRONT HUGS USA- A PUBLIC CHARITY SERBVING OUR HEROES SINCE 9-11.
Have your coworkers,neighbors and families join in please! Even postcards from different areas are welcome and give our heroes a taste of home.... Each card goes DIRECTLY into the hands of a hero. Include your own address if you like... *********************************************************
NAME ADDED 10/17/2008
> I know a young man who is in desperate need of help. His name is
> PFC Hunter Levine.
He is 20 years old and hails from Houston, Tx.
> He was in my company and was wounded on 9 May, 2008 while
> conducting combat operations in East Baghdad. He recieved a very
> serious injury to his face, resulting in the loss of his entire
> bone structure, mouth, nose, and vision.
>
> He was evacuated to Walter Reed Hospital where the Doctors
> performed numeorus surgerys to repair his face. I was fortunate
> enough to attend a Purple Heart Ceremony at Walter Reed while I
> was home on leave in June. I was also able to meet with Hunter's
> father Beau.
>
> Hunter was transferred to a VA hospital in Palo Alto, where the
> best care for his vison would be available. He is a true fighter
> with a heart of gold. Unfortuntaly, I recieved some bad news from
> the hospital doctors. Lately, he has been resisiting treatment
> and being somewhat combative with the hospital staff. He has had
> a few outbursts and the staff is real worried about him. It seems
> like a serious case of depression is setting in. Although his
> wounds on the outside may look bad, they may never compare with
> the wounds he has on the inside.
>
> I spoke with him on the phone this evening, and he seemed real
> down. The reality is that he still has a long road to recover and
> may never see again. This young man has everything to live for
> and is a true inspiration. He is exactly the kind of person we
> would all want in a brother, son, or friend. I feel obligated to
> try and rally some support for him.
>
> I know we have a lot of caring people out there who would love to
> do something sepcial for an outstandig American who gave his all
> for his country. If you know of any church groups, school room
> classes, or other benevolent organizations that would be
> interested in assiting this brave young man, please forward this
> message on to them as well.
>
> He is a pretty typical young man, so he likes sports and other
> typical young men stuff. A small care package with some goodies
> and such would mena the world. Again, please forward this message
> to as many people as you know. It would be so great if we can all
> give way togther and show Hunter that his country will never
> forget his sacrifices or service. He is down and needs our help.
> Thank you for your support...it means everything.
>
> Address:
>
> PFC Hunter N. Levine
> C CO 2-30 IN
> 3801 Miranda Ave
> Building 7D
> Palo Alto, CA 94304
>
>
>
> V/R,
>
> 1SG Brian M. Disque
> C CO 2-30 IN
October 18, 2008 I received this email from Julie with BlueStarMoms who visited with Hunter this afternoon .. so I wanted to pass it along.. JOHN OMFH Well, we already went today and just got back actually but we wouldn’t mind going again. When I say we, I took my daughter-in-law and granddaughters too. One of the staff did go in ahead and asked Hunter if he minded us coming in. That was Hunters request to be notified ahead of time. I figured that if he did not want visitors today that we would just leave what we had brought for him there for him to have and I understood his request. He let us come in because I told the nurse about my son serving in Iraq. Tht seemed to make Hunter feel better. We just stopped in for a minute and took a card, a box of See’s lollipops, some other candy and a small fimo clay frog wind chime. (FROG=Freely Rely On God) That made him sorta laugh, the wind chime. He said he didn’t know where to put it so we suggested over the a/c unit or hang it on the window that way he could know if the a/c was working or not. I figured that he could use the practice in getting his other senses a little sharper while his eyesight was getting some work. The room was pretty warm though, and there was a soldier visiting him as well so I didn’t want to take up too much of his time. I will call Stephanie later this week and see if he wouldn’t mind having us visit again, without the girls though. I would love to have you come with or meet me there. I have a map now and it is pretty easy to get to. He has a DVD player and an i-pod and told me he has all the music he needs, he is still pretty angry inside. I know that later in life he will look back and think about us going there, it will be just a random thought but I hope it will be a good one. Also, my granddaughters class is going to make a mobile for his room, that should help him with some eye coordination exercises without him knowing that he is actually doing them. I did see that he had the DVD Gladiator (great movie!) so he has some vision. He also had a watch on with a magnifier on it. Also, the lollipops will help with the muscles in his neck which will in turn help with the face restructuring. In fact, I am thinking that getting some crossword puzzle books and other items like that as well as some cards for other soldiers who are there would be worthwhile. There were a couple who had no visitors and looked like they could use someone to visit with.
************************************************************************* Hi.
I need your help in showing a great soldier that we (Americans)
appreciate her service to our country and the sacrifices she made while
serving in Iraq.
To make a long story short, towards the beginning of Tawnia's
deployment, she fell 15 feet because of a mortar attack. She suffered
injuries to her left arm, back, and head. She had been and is still
suffering memory loss and problems with her back and arm. She is also
suffering from PTSD.
Even with her injuries, Tawnia was determined to stay in Iraq and finish
her tour with her unit. Near the end of her deployment, her health
deteriorated and the doctor ordered her state side. Tawnia did not want
to leave her fellow soldiers.
Because of this situation, Tawnia never received a "welcome home" or any
awards from the unit she was with. This was due to the fact that she
was not deployed with a unit from her home state.
Tawnia is still having problems with her health. She is becoming
discouraged.
Please help. I need your assistance in raising Tawnia's spirits. I
would like to show Tawnia that Americans appreciate her efforts and
sacrifices while serving our country. I am collecting cards and emails
to give to her.
Please do not mention any of her health issues. Thank you.
My home address is:
Becky Sherman
3946 Dellview Avenue
Arden Hills, MN 55112
If you have any questions, you can contact me at:
becky.sherman@wellsfargo.com.
I will be accepting cards, letters, and emails for Tawnia until Friday,
November 21st.
Thank you for supporting one of America's "heroes in fatigues".
God bless America's Armed Forces and their families.
Sincerely,
Becky Sherman
I'm happy to say the feedback I have received so far from caring people is unbelievable. The way things look Kevin is gonna need a bigger room for his mail lol John ******************************************************** Donations Needed for Landstuhl Outpatients - Please Help Us Support Your Soldiers!
The Soldiers' Angels have adopted the Combat Support Hospitals in Iraq and all the Military hospitals worldwide.
Soldiers' Angels Germany supports the patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, which includes the outpatient barracks at Kleber. LRMC receives injured and ill soldiers on a daily basis, who often arrive wearing the uniforms in which they were wounded.
Receiving needed items as donations from everyday Americans via Soldiers´ Angels volunteers provides a level of personal support that has a very positive impact on a patient´s morale, and therefore on the recovery process.
"A lot of the guys here are hurting. But when we see all that stuff... and know that people have sent it, and that other people have put it out here for us, it makes us feel really good."
- Soldier at Kleber
For the Kleber outpatient barracks we are currently requesting donations of:
- Shower Gel
- Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Deoderant
- FlipFlops to wear while showering (large sizes)
- Knit or fleece caps
- Small stuffed animals
- Microwaveable meals, snacks, fruit cups (Soldiers often arrive at Kleber from Iraq or Afghanistan in the evenings after regular meal hours)
Please send items to:
21st TSC, Medical Transient Detachment
ATTN: Soldiers' Angels
UNIT 23203
APO AE 09263
Important:
- Include a card with your name, Email address, and short description of items sent in your packages. Without this information, we will be unable to confirm their receipt.
All donations are delivered directly through Willie or MaryAnn to Landstuhl hospital and Kleber Barracks.
Please help support our wounded and ill Heroes! Thank you.
John - Shower Gel
- Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Deoderant
- FlipFlops to wear while showering (large sizes)
- Knit or fleece caps
- Small stuffed animals
- Microwaveable meals, snacks, fruit cups (Soldiers often arrive at Kleber from Iraq or Afghanistan in the evenings after regular meal hours)
Please send items to:
21st TSC, Medical Transient Detachment
ATTN: Soldiers' Angels
UNIT 23203
APO AE 09263
Important:
- Include a card with your name, Email address, and short description of items sent in your packages. Without this information, we will be unable to confirm their receipt.
All donations are delivered directly through Willie or MaryAnn to Landstuhl hospital and Kleber Barracks.
Please help support our wounded and ill Heroes! Thank you.
John
Here are the updates on our wounded hero Sgt. Kevin Downs from his local newspaper the South Cheatham Advocate. You can also check for updates anytime on GOOGLE by searching using his name.
As of April 1st, 2006
The news just keeps getting better and better from BAMC in Texas. "He's doing a lot better since he got off that medication", Catherine Downs said, "you wouldn't believe it!" Catherine has been saying for weeks that Kevin needed to get off as much of the pain
medication as possible in order to feel better physically and mentally, and she was of course, right.
Not only is Kevin walking on his new prosthetics, he's also learning how to "squiggle himself out of the bed into his chair and squiggle himself back into the bed from his chair", Catherine said. That's a
huge step toward getting home, Kevin has to be able to take care of himself before he gets to come back here. He's also eating on his own, brushing his own teeth, "He's just taken right off", Catherine said. "As soon as he's able to put those legs on himself he'll be walking right out those doors", she added. He still needs assistance with those legs and dressing himself, but therapy is working hard to
knock those things off the list as well.
Catherine said that Kevin is looking better every day as well. "He got a haircut today, and got a shave, they're keeping him in that military look", she laughed. Aside from that doctors put some sort of "acid stuff" on Kevin's face and "it has really cleared it up", Catherine said, "he's really looking good".
He's sleeping in braces at night to help get his knees to straighten all the way out, and work continues to help him straighten his arm more, and get strong enough to be more and more self sufficient.
More and more you can tell that area residents are preparing for Kevin Downs' return by getting out those beautiful yellow ribbons.
Don't put it off! Go see Shawn Rider at AmSouth Bank in Kingston Springs and she will GIVE you a ribbon to tie on your mailbox, or a tree in your yard, or your car antenna, or wherever you want to express your support for Kevin and our other soldiers. Shawn is not asking for payment, but if you feel moved to do so, make a contribution to the account set up in Kevin's name.
Shawn would also like to thank the Kingston Springs United Methodist Women's Group for their donation to purchase more ribbon, and Trish Harris for the big bag of tied bows that she brought, and everyone who has picked up a ribbon or made a donation.
As of April 8th, 2006
Kevin is doing really well, and "pretty much doing on his own now", Catherine Downs said on Wednesday of this week. He can transfer himself pretty well now in and out of the chair and the bed, he is feeding himself, brushing his own teeth, and working hard in therapy.
Joe and Catherine Downs have decided, in what is likely the most difficult decision they have ever made, that the best thing for Kevin right now is for them to step back, and come home, and let Kevin take control of his life and continuing recovery. They have come home and are trying to get back to some form of a routine again. They get regular updates on Kevin from nurses and friends
they have made in the months since that dreadful August day, and know that Kevin is still receiving top notch care from top notch professionals. "They're taking great care of him down there", she said. He has a therapist who "doesn't give him a break", and that's a good thing.
"We're just going to stay away for a little while, and do things that we've missed out on and catch up on here a little bit ... enjoy the spring time", she said. Joe retired in April of last year. Kevin was wounded in August, and Joe and Catherine have been with him in Texas nearly non-stop since then. "We're going to start all over.
We're going to pretend like he just retired this April 1st, and we're going to start over", she added.
Catherine said that Kevin is continuing to walk short distances, "trying to get his strength up", she said. His wonderful nurses are pushing him just like Catherine did while she was there, and that is exactly what is going to have to happen to get him home.
Joe and Catherine would probably insist that I make sure that you don't forget, not for one second, that there are many other soldiers out there right now, some who will or have already come home, some who never will, that deserve your prayers and love as much as Kevin.
Please don't forget any of our soldiers, or our veterans.
As of April 15th, 2005
Kevin continues to improve. In fact, a couple of soldiers from his unit went to visit him recently and took him out and around the base, even to the Riverwalk, a beautiful commercial district in San Antonio. It must have been wonderful for him to get out and feel a
little more normal for a change. I don't have the names of the soldiers who took the time to give Kevin a breath of fresh air, but if I get them I will pass them along.
There is now a fund set up for Kevin Downs if you would like to make a donation of any size, large or small.
Donations can be sent to:
Community Bank and Trust
PO Box 340
Kingston Springs, TN 37082
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